(Adds further details of Italian decision, background)
ROME, June 18 (Reuters) - Italy has introduced a mandatory
five-day quarantine for visitors from Britain, Health Minister
Roberto Speranza said on Friday, as concerns grow over a highly
contagious coronavirus variant that is spreading in the nation.
At the same time, Italy is lifting curbs on travellers from
the United States, Canada, Japan and other European Union states
if they have a green pass showing they are vaccinated or
recently tested negative, the minister wrote on Facebook.
A ban on people arriving from India, Bangladesh and Sri
Lanka would remain in place, he added.
The minister said travellers from Britain would also have to
be tested, but he did not say if the measures were being
introduced immediately.
Italy is following in the footsteps of France, Austria and
Germany, which have already introduced varying curbs on those
entering from Britain.
Britain on Friday said there had been a 79% increase in
weekly reported cases of the Delta coronavirus variant, which
was first identified in India. The variant now comprises 91% of
sequenced cases, Public Health England said.
(Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Crispian Balmer)